South Africa v Ireland: All you need to know

Ireland's Tour of South Africa - First Test

Saturday, 6 July

South Africa v Ireland, Loftus Versfeld Stadium, 4pm

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Mischief-making and an ambush in store?

Who could forget the last meeting between Ireland and the Springboks? It ultimately didn't lead to a launchpad towards greater things from an Irish point of view but 23 September 2023 was an arm-wrestle for the ages at the last World Cup.

Ireland won out 13-8 and as the nations meet again in the first test of the tour series on South African soil, the intensity won't have dimmed at all and it'll be a case of whether Andy Farrell's side can meet fire with fire.

As Bernard Jackman outlined on the RTÉ Rugby Podcast, Saturday's reunion in Pretoria is "absolutely massive" for the Springboks for a number of reasons and that Ireland could be "running into an ambush, which could turn nasty if we're not careful".

There's been plenty said off the pitch before, during after last autumn's Paris battle by some of the main actors on the stage - Rassie Erasmus (mis)chief among them - which could contribute to a degree of needle between both teams, although Farrell recognises his counterpart's outbursts for the mind games that they are and has consequently laughed them off.

When South Africa won the World Cup there was an